Story about Delia. Her family believes they are witches even though they cannot do any magic. Their next door neighbour and close friend dies and his nephew comes to pack up the house. The nephew, Max, is a witch, as was their neighbour, and they were sent by the witches council to make sure Delia and her family don’t break the curse that blocks their magic. Delia can break the curse until her 30th birthday as she was born under a blue moon, but she does not believe in magic or think she can perform the spell.

This is a fun, lighthearted book. Delia and her family were hilarious. Max and his brother, Luke, were great too. I loved Luke’s joy at doing regular human things like grating cheese. When Max and Luke’s parents come visit, the book got even better. I loved the way Delia’s family helped their family reconnect and learn how to enjoy spending time together.

The contrast of Delia’s Texas charm and Max’s quiet reserve really made the story. We get both povs and I laughed out loud often at Delia trying to be gracious and welcoming and Max having no idea how to escape the situation.

I can’t end the review without saying how much I loved Nicky, the cat/imp. He had some of the funniest scenes but it was also great seeing Max realize how important he was to their family.

I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone looking for a lighthearted, witchy romance. I hope the author writes another book set in the same town. I want to see all the characters again.

The Merriweather women have always been witches. Delia had been taught that as a child. She was a Merriweather woman, so she was a witch. That was just how it worked. The only problem is that they have no magic. The story in the family is that they are hexed, and that’s why they have no magic. It went back many generations, and they try to break the hex with potions and spells. But they are just not powerful enough.

Until now.

Now there is a Blue Witch in the family. Delia was born under a blue moon, and she has a distinctive birthmark. Her grandmother and aunts have been hoping her powers would emerge since she’d been 18. But now she’s almost 30, and she’s given up on all ideas of witchcraft. She no longer believes in magic. She studied to be an interior designer, and she’s only interested in staging houses for her realtor mother to sell and to made people’s homes more comfortable.

Delia has her sights on the house next door. Harrison Hartwell had been their neighbor for her entire life, until he died suddenly. The Merriweathers had been trying to catch his cat Nikki ever since, so they could feed him and take care of him, but he is elusive. Now Max Halifax, Hartwell’s cousin, is staying in the house and clearing it out. Delia has decided to pitch her staging services to him, even though he’s not been very friendly. But it’s a big house and would be quite a coup for Delia if she could get the job.

Max had always loved visiting his uncle in Willow Root, Texas. This time was different though. For one thing, his uncle had died. And for another, he was tasked with keeping an eye on the Merriweather women next door because if somehow they figured out how to reverse the hex that his ancestors had put on the family, the power balance of the Concilium, the governing body of witches. And then Delia, the supposed Blue Witch, asks him to stage the house. He can’t believe his luck. Keeping an eye on her just got so much easier.

But while the Merriweathers don’t have the kind of magic that Max has, they do have their own hospitality. They make sure Max and his brother Luc are well fed and enjoying themselves, as much as they can under these circumstances. But this causes more problems, as Max and Delia are clearly falling for each other. But that can’t happen. Because along with the supposed hex that kept the Merriweathers from accessing their magical powers, there is also a curse that meant any man the Merriweather women loved would meet with a horrible fate. So if Delia really cares about Max, she’ll let him go before he is lost to some terrible fate.

But the more they learn about the magical underpinnings of the towns where they both live, the more Max and Delia realize that there is more at stake than just one family’s magic or a relationship between the two of them. The entire witching world is under attach, and they may be the only ones who can set things aright again.

Hot Hex Boyfriend is a rom com set in the world of witches. There are a lot of genuinely sweet moments, laugh-out loud adventures, and Texas hospitality. These characters are charming but stuck in generational trauma that keep them from flourishing. There is a lot going on in this book, layers of storylines that seem to go on and on, but the writing is engaging, and the ending is powerful.

I listened to Hot Hex Boyfriend as an audio book, narrated in turns by Laura Knight Keating and Zion Jang. Going back and forth between the voices of Delia and Max add a lot to this story, since they are showing up from such different places and different perspectives. I though Keating especially did an amazing job to bring Delia to life with her Texas accent and enthusiasm. And Jang made Max’s seriousness and dedication to his mission so present as he told his half of the story. Together, they made the story come together in a lovely, balanced way, and listening to them was a joy.

I had a lot of fun with Hot Hex Boyfriend. There is a lot of witch world rules to keep straight, but since Delia is new to it all too, she helps make sure everyone is on the same page, and her friends are quick to jump in and help explain things. The chemistry between Delia and Max is sparkling, and the characters around them are fun, adorable, and surprising, and I would not be upset at all to find myself reading another book set in this world. If you’re into witches and love a good rom com, you’ll want to made sure to add this one to your list. Make a margarita, grab some queso and chips, and dig right in. It will cast a spell on you!

Egalleys for Hot Hex Boyfriend were provided by Forever, and an early copy of the audio book was provided by Hachette Audio, both through NetGalley, with many thanks.

This book felt like reading a hallmark movie. I thought the characters were very likable, and the concept was perfect for the beginning of fall. Personally, I was looking for the stakes to be a bit higher. I think the alternating points of view took away a lot of the tension. Overall it was a quick and cosy read, and the voice actors did a great job with the accents!

A fun read. Starts out a bit rough because the male character is so stiff and prejudiced, but he thaws out and comes around eventually. It actually sort of read like a Pride & Prejudice story for me. A good witchy romance with a solid ending.

🪄 Book Review 🪄

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom
🪄
This was the perfect fall read! If you want a witchy rom-com that feels like Practical Magic, and has a talking cat like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, then you will love this. It was sweet, cozy, cute, and quirky. Delia’s family is chaotic and lovely, and their wild antics were so entertaining. Max is strait laced, grumpy, and doesn’t believe in love, but he falls hard and fast for Delia, and their relationship is too cute. I listened to the audiobook, and it was amazing! The Texas drawl was perfect. This book was totally adorable and is the perfect read for the start of spooky season.
🪄
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
🪄
Read if you like:
▫️witches and magic
▫️small town
▫️grumpy x sunshine
▫️dual POV
🪄
Thank you to Forever, NetGalley, and Carly Bloom for the ALC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Start spooky reading season off right with this cozy witch romance!

✨ Book Review: HOT HEX BOYFRIEND by Carly Bloom ✨

📖 Book Synopsis: The women in Delia’s family claim to be witches, even if they don’t have any magical power, supposedly due to a hex placed on the family generations ago. Delia just thinks her family is quirky and a bit embarrassing. She has no idea that the story is true and the hot new neighbor is actually there to monitor the family. When she accidentally breaks the hex, all kinds of trouble is unleashed.

💖 My Take: This book was so fun! It’s silly and joyful, light and cozy, while still delivering romance with a touch of mystery. Think an adult Sabrina the Teenage Witch meets Practical Magic. Delia was really relatable and likeable. She’s not looking for love, but rather to just find the right career path after a few failed small business attempts so she can move out of her lovingly chaotic family home. The addition of her new magical neighbor, Max, and a new reality as a witch is a whole new level of both crazy, magic, and possibility. Definitely recommend.

Read HOT HEX BOYFRIEND for
🧙 Magical mystery
💗 Slow burn, will-they, won’t-they romance and steam
😹 Laugh-out-loud antics
🤭 Quirky, silly, loving family life
🏡 Small town community

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)

😘 Thanks to Estelle at @ReadForeverPub and @HachetteAudio for the advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review!

I had the pleasure of receiving an ALC copy of Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom, and I absolutely adored it! This book had everything I could want—humor, romance, a dash of mystery, and an irresistible touch of magic.

Delia Merriweather is utterly charming as a protagonist. Her disbelief in magic makes her a relatable character, even as she finds herself surrounded by a family convinced they’re witches, under a supposed hex no less! The quirky, lovable Merriweather clan adds depth to the story with their eccentricities and heartfelt bond. Max Halifax, on the other hand, is the perfect book boyfriend. Brooding and skeptical, his chemistry with Delia had me hooked, and I loved how his rigid exterior began to crack as Delia unknowingly wreaked magical havoc.

The mystery of the hex, paired with Max's suspicions about the Merriweathers' abilities, created tension and kept me on the edge of my seat. Plus, Max’s dead uncle added a fun and unexpected layer to the plot. Despite being gone, his larger-than-life personality came through vividly in the memories of his loved ones, and I enjoyed how he became such an integral part of the narrative.

I also have to mention the audiobook narration—things did get a little weird when the male narrator voiced Delia, but it was such an amusing quirk that I ended up enjoying it. It made the audiobook a truly unique experience.

Carly Bloom masterfully blends humor and heart in Hot Hex Boyfriend. I found myself laughing out loud at Delia’s sarcastic wit and nearly tearing up during the sweeter moments. The magic is whimsical, the romance swoon-worthy, and the writing is full of warmth and charm. I'm beyond grateful to have received this ALC—this is one witchy romance I won’t be forgetting anytime soon!

This story was fun and the narrator added to the lighthearted tone of the book. Having a family of witches without powers created a wacky vibe which made the book offbeat. The restaurant that served church reception food was a laugh and reminded me of the church dinners I have attended. All in all the book was a lot of fun.

I did not enjoy the narrative style but thought the story was compelling enough. A decent read but nothing I’d pick up myself or gift to someone.

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom,
Narrated by Laura Knight Keating & Zion Jang

Magic, spice and everything nice

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨
Spice: 🌶️

Hot Hex Boyfriend follows the Merriweather clan of witches. Well, they don't have magic, and nobody really believes they're witches, but surely Delia will break the hex that makes that so, right? Not if Max, a logically inclined witch sent here to prevent just that, has anything to say about it. But Max quickly gets drawn into Delia's southern charm, broad smiles and joyfulness. And both of them will soon discover that they're facing much more than an ancient Hex...

I really just plain adored this book. It reads away very quickly while keeping a good pace. The plot was cozy, warm, just surprising enough to stave off predictability, and all in all just a joy of an october-themed witchy book. Bloom's portrayal of Delia's and Max's families was quirky and enjoyable, and the different forms of love portrayed radiate off the page. Bloom excels in a large cast of lovable side characters to compliment the main characters.

Delia & Max's romance is slow-burn, natural and incredibly heart-warming and sweet. While it does get a little bit spicy, tenderness and adoration are the main themes here, which for me was a nice change of pace from the intense books I usually read.

I'm not sure how to feel about the female narrator, Knight Keating, as her voice is unfortunately a little harsh/grating to my ears. It took me a couple paragraphs to settle back in to her narration each time, which made the whole experience less enjoyable. The switching of POV and narration voice was also rather abrupt, startling me almost every time until I was about 80% into the book. Both narrators fit their characters well, however. Especially Jang (the Male narrator) does a great job at accent work and character delivery.

Thank you to NetGalley, Carly Bloom and Hachette Audio for the review copy. All in all I greatly enjoyed reading Hot Hex Boyfriend, a witchy romance wonderfully heralding in the cozy, comfortable energy of fall. Highly recommend!

4⭐️s. Available now! Bit of magic and some romance. A whole lot of family drama. I’m not a horror reader so I feel like this was a good way for me to start my spooky season.

Delia is convinced that her family is crazy and they are not a bunch of witches without magic. Until one day, the hex that apparently is on them is broken and they have magic again. All Delia wants is to be a successful home decorator. Especially when the best house to decorate has the very handsome nephew of the previous owner trying to sell it. Max is torn between the chemistry he feels for Delia and a family responsibility. In fact, it’s his family that insistents on making sure the hex is put back on the Merriweather women. Can Delia trust Max to love her and not hex her? Can Max trust Delia’s clueless nature to not control his heart with her uncontrollable magic?

Wonderful narration by both Laura Knight Keating and Zion Jang. I really appreciated their flow with as many other characters involved. It never felt muddled with so many character parts communicating back-and-forth.

What are some fun props you use with your review posts? I’m still working on mine.

thank you too @netgalley @carlybloombooks and @hachetteaudio for the advanced listener copy.

This is a perfect option for a cozy witchy RomCom for a reader looking for those fall vibes. This story has banter, tension and quirky, lovable characters. I enjoyed the magic system and the backstory created for the magic system. I really liked Delia’s eccentric family and the neighbor’s cat Nikki. The narration was really fun - the narrators did a great job bringing this story to life. I found it to be super entertaining, and I highly recommend it if you like audiobooks. Otherwise, the print book was also equally fun!

Thank you to NetGalley, Carly Bloom, Hachette audio, and Forever publishing for this audiobook ARC and eARC.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrators were perfect! I loved the storyline and parts of it were so funny! The characters were all interesting and I really hope this is the beginning of a series- so many more stories to tell in this world! Highly recommend!

✨AUDIOBOOK r e v i e w✨

Hot Hex Boyfriend by Carly Bloom
⭐️⭐️⭐️3/5
PUB DATE: September 3, 2024!

Synopsis:

“ As a child, Delia Merriweather believed with all her heart that she was a witch. Because all Merriweather women were witches. There was just one problem: they had no magic. As an adult, Delia no longer believes magic even exists. However, when she accidentally breaks a hex and restores her family’s powers, she’s forced to accept a new reality: she is a witch. And maybe that’s why the crushingly handsome guy next door has been looking at her like he’s expecting her to fly off on a broomstick, cackling into the night.

Just when Max thinks he’s done keeping an eye on the bumbling Merriweather women, now he must help his neighbors learn to control their magic before they out witches everywhere. But Delia can’t decide if Max is helping or hexing, and Max can’t tell whether his growing feelings for Delia are real, or if he’s come under the spell of the most powerful—and clueless—witch he’s ever known. And the last thing Max needs is to fall for the one witch who could rule the entire witching world by controlling the hearts of men.”

This book was really cute. It has all the romance and witchy vibes, which I was so excited about as we enter fall! I think that if I read the physical book vs listening, I might’ve enjoyed it more. I didn’t dislike the narrators, but the southern accent for Delia really threw me off and I couldn’t get past it. I’m not even sure why, because it wasn’t poorly done, but it just didn’t work for me. Regardless, this was a super cute witchy read, and definitely got me in the spirit 🎃🧹

Thank you @netgalley and @hachetteaudio for this ALC!!

Looking for the perfect cozy, witchy rom-com to curl up with this fall? "Hot Hex Boyfriend" has got you covered! This delightful story follows Delia Merriweather, a skeptic when it comes to magic despite her family's witchy claims. But when she accidentally breaks a generations-old hex, chaos ensues, and enters Max Halifax—the brooding (and oh-so-handsome) new neighbor who's not too thrilled about the sudden magical mayhem next door. Sparks fly, magic misfires, and trust me, you'll be hooked from page one.

I absolutely loved the charming small-town Texas setting Carly Bloom created. Places like the Mourning Glory Cafe and the Ice House felt so real and inviting, I found myself wishing I could pop in for a coffee or a dance! The side characters are just as enchanting, each bringing their own quirks and southern flair that add so much warmth and humor to the story. And let's talk about the magic system—surprisingly detailed and intriguing for a lighthearted read, it adds the perfect sprinkle of enchantment to Delia and Max's journey.

If audiobooks are your jam, you're in for a treat. The dual narration along with the fun accents bring the story to life in the best way possible. Narrators Laura Knight Keating and Zion Jang do an amazing job of giving each character a unique voice. With a dash of enemies-to-lovers vibes, personal growth, and plenty of magical mishaps, "Hot Hex Boyfriend" is a feel-good read that will leave you smiling and believing in a little bit of magic. Grab a pumpkin spice latte, get comfy, and enjoy this enchanting ride!

Read if you like:
- witchy rom coms
- small towns
- quirky side characters
- cozy paranormal romances
- grumpy x sunshine

All the Merriweather women consider themselves witches, except Delia, who finds it absurd. But in their town, it's serious business. As the family's blue witch, Delia is destined to lift their curse and restore their magic. Max, a witch aiming to prevent the Merriweather curse from being broken, finds himself enchanted by Delia. Can they resist the magic between them?

Though it was a little slow to start, the story was a quick and entertaining listen. The location and magical aspects were super charming and really added to the Southern appeal. The dialogue at times was actually laugh-out-loud funny, and I really enjoyed the other characters, especially Nicky, who reminded me a lot of Salem from Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

I listened to the audiobook version was thoroughly impressed with the narrators variety of accents — it made it feel like a full cast audiobook even though it wasn’t. I will say that the female narrator, Laura Knight Keating, spoke a lot slower than the male narrator, Zion Jang, so I found myself adjusting the speed for her sections and slowing it down for his.

I would recommend it to anyone who likes rivals to lovers, boy next door, small town romances, all with a sprinkle of magic of course!

📖: Hot Hex Boyfriend: a standalone

🖋️: Carly Bloom-new to me author

🗓️: Published 9-3-24, Read 9-3-24

⭐️Rating: 5/5

🌶️ Steam: 3/5, 1 good scene between H/h

📔Page Count: 364

🎧Narrators: Laura Knight Keating and Zion Jang voice the characters. The narrators' voices fit the characters with standouts from Delia's Southern drawl. The reading style brought the text to life, and the author and narrator worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrator paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along with the E-book and audiobook.

🏃🏽‍♀️‍➡️Run Time: 11:49


⚠️ TW: threat of baby killing

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Mystery, Fantasy, Contemporary Romance

Setting: Willow Root,TX

Tropes
✨magic/witches/demons/fairies
✨Halloween
✨ open door
✨forbidden romance
✨forced proximity
✨POV: dual 3rd person

Summary: Cordelia "Delia" Merriweather (29) and her family are a coven of witches with no magic. They believe they are hexed and any lovers they have will die. Their neighbor Hartwell Halifax has recently passed, and his nephew Maximus "Max" Halifax (33) comes to pack up his house and spy on the witches next door. The High Priestess Morgaine Gerard sent Max because she believes they are dangerous and use blue magic to steal peoples' hearts. When Delia and Max meet there is insta-attraction, but they both know their covens don't mix.

🤔My Thoughts: I loved the world building and folklore of the witches. The Logos line (Halifax) and the Cor line (Merriweather) witches don't mix, and Hallifaxes don't fall in love. They use logic-based magic, while the Merriweather's use magic with their hearts. Delia's grandmother Madora "Maddie", her mother Fiona, and great aunts -Aurora, Thea, and Andi have loved and lost believing the two-hundred-year curse from a Halifax ancestor. The side characters were flushed out, especially Luc (Max's younger brother), Amy (Delia's BFF since childhood), and Nikki (Hartwell's familiar). I see the potential for future books, and this was a great start.

🙏🏽Thanks to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Hachette Audio for the ARC and ALC🐈‍⬛! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Delia Merriweather comes from a family of witches - or so they claim. However, she doesn't believe in magic, and she definitely doesn't believe that her family possesses it. But she loves her family, and so every blue moon, she plays along when they ask her, as the blue witch, to attempt to break the hex on their family. Meanwhile, Max Halifax, who comes to town to settle his uncle's estate, is shocked when Delia miraculously breaks the hex, which could cause a cosmic shift in the witching world.

This was a super fun read. Max and Delia's chemistry was spot-on, and all the characters felt fully fleshed-out, including all their friends and family members. The story was fast-paced yet still easy to follow, and the humor had me laughing out loud throughout the whole book. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for an upbeat witchy rom-com.

I don't listen to a lot of romance books on audio, but I enjoyed that Delia and Max's points of view were narrated by different people. My biggest complaint, which is really specific to the audiobook, is that the volume difference between the two narrators didn't seem very well regulated so I needed to adjust my volume often while listening.

A funny and heartwarming cozy paranormal romance. When Delia Merriwhether breaks a centuries old curse and brings magic back to her family, her neighbor Max (a fellow witch) is concerned that the power of the Merriweathers, that the ability to control the hearts of men, could be harnessed for evil. This book was so fun!

This gave me all the Sabrina The Teenage Witch vibes!! I loved Nicky, the British talking cat.

This was the coziest read to kick off Spooky Season.

This audio was so fun and the narrators made the story come to life!

I loved the chemistry between Max and Delia - it was HOT HOT HOT

Found Family is one of my favorite tropes - and this made my heart swoon!

super cute, fun Halloween read!